Angels’ Deal With Percival Comes With Saves and Savings

TEMPE, Ariz. — Closer Troy Percival signed a four-year, $3.63-million contract last May that is shaping up as the deal of the century--for the Angels.

Percival is one of baseball’s best relievers, with a 2.13 earned-run average, 194 strikeouts and 57 walks in the last two seasons. John Wetteland, considered one of baseball’s best closers, has a 2.88 ERA, 135 strikeouts and 35 walks in the same period.

Wetteland had 43 saves for the World Series champion New York Yankees last season; Percival had 36 for the last-place Angels. Yet, Wetteland will make $5 million for the Texas Rangers this season, $1.37 million more than Percival will make in four years.

“But I have no regrets,” Percival said. “I made my deal and it was good for me at the time. I just need to get to that fifth year. That’s what I’m looking for.”

There are two option years beyond Percival’s four-year contract, which could pay him $2.4 million in 2000 and $4 million in 2001.

“I won’t have any regrets then,” Percival said. “You only need so much money to live. It took Wetteland a lot of years to get that kind of money. I can wait.”